Radio ‘queen’ Maina Kageni shines in Nairobi women rep poll

Radio ‘queen’ Maina Kageni has been ranked among candidates running for the Nairobi Woman representative by a new pollster.

An opinion poll released today by Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA) shows the Classic 105 FM breakfast presenter would emerge third if elections were held today, ahead of two female contestants.

Maina is beaten only by Esther Passaris of ODM whose popularity is at 59 percent compared to and Rachael Shebesh, the incumbent, who polled 25 percent.

The media personality, who jokingly announced his candidature through a social media video posting meant to advertise one of his clients, is at par with the Nadya Khan and Wiper candidate Rachael Ndambuki at one per cent.

Maina said in the clip, broadcast online on June 7^th, that he had been issued with a certificate by the registrar of political parties and the IEBC had, in fact, cleared him to run for a seat constitutionally reserved for women.

It appears some Nairobians took him seriously and would have actually voted for him if his name was on the ballot in the 8^th August elections.

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In the fantasy world of his breakfast show, which he co-hosts with Daniel Dambuki, aka Mwalimi King’ang’i, Maina is the de facto shadow woman rep for a growing breed of Nairobi women who find solace in the radio talkshow led by a man who touches their soft spots.

Passaris, who lost the seat to Rachel Shebesh in 2013, has a clear lead over her rival. Shebesh’s drop in popularity could be largely attributed to her long absence from the limelight after she got pregnant while serving her first term and later had a baby, forcing her off active public engagement.

Her altercation with Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, in which she was allegedly slapped, also cost her some support.

[crp]